Missouri Medicaid (MO HealthNet) Adds Chronic Care Improvement Program

Every year Medicare and Medicaid participants nervously anticipate changes to their coverage. This 2008, Missouri residents will find that the renamed Missouri Medicaid, now MO HealthNet, includes notable differences to the state health program, especially for the chronically ill.

MO HealthNet has instituted the Chronic Care Improvement Program (CCIP), following governmental and patient advocacy debate in 2007. CCIP is a voluntary program, now managed by APS HealthCare, and with it arrives new rights and responsibilities.

For the patient, CCIP is designed to help patients "understand their illness and take better care of their health," according to letters sent to select patients by APS Healthcare. Patients will have 24-hour access to an accredited health professional, be able to discuss symptoms, find specialty care, and obtain other advice.

For the government, CCIP is designed to save money by promoting good health decisions.

While current Missouri Medicaid enrollees may be tentatively enrolled in the program, and receive a letter to that effect, a signed release is required for active participation in the Chronic Care Improvement Program.

Should Patients Sign the CCIP Consent Form?

Under CCIP, patients are assigned a nurse that serves as a patient advocate. Allegedly, the CCIP nurse helps patients understand their illness, talk to their doctor and make wise health decisions.

Sounds smart, but this free health service is not without costs - foremost is privacy. The APS Healthcare Nurse may contact participants at home, by phone or mail at her discretion.

As MO HealthNet better embraces preventive medicine and is edging toward insurance-based health rewards, patients may be encouraged to eat better, exercise and stop smoking.

The bottom line is that it remains to be seen how much hounding patients will receive for less than stellar self-care decisions. Additionally, this level of medical intimacy is one step behind basing medical coverage on a patient's willingness to follow mainstream health advice.

Currently, enrollment status in the CCIP program does not affect MO HealthNet coverage, and patients may elect to opt in or out of the program at their discretion.

The Future of Health Insurance?

Typically, the general public favors the wholesale implementation of any program designed to reduce taxpayer supported health care costs. On its surface, the CCIP may seem like a sage choice in reducing debt for self-included health disorders.

If a patient is practicing due diligence in their self-care choices, the CCIP may be helpful in leading the way toward better health. Individuals, including the elderly, with cognitive impairments might also benefit from this one-on-one support.

Conversely, as one cancer patient elucidates, "I may die of this disease. I try to take care of myself, but I eat what I can tolerate. I'll be damned if I'll add to my suffering the scolding of bureaucrats, dictating how much coffee I should drink."

Quite possibly MO HealthNet represents the near future of medical insurance in general, whether private or public-based.

Sources:

APS Health Care, (Patient Letter, December 13, 2007)
Missouri Health Net
(http://www.senate.mo.gov/07info/members/newsrel/d28/040207.pdf)
Medicare and Medicaid Health Support
(www.cms.hhs.gov/CCIP/)
Missouri Health Improvement Act of 2007
(http://www.senate.mo.gov/07info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=r&BillID=28834)
MO HealthNet